The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-04
PUBLIC HOME OF THE SICK
How Diseased and Disabled People Are
Treated at the City Hospital.
Growth Of the Institution from Very Sma Ii
Beginning in 1S56-The Orphans Home
Transfers Its Infants to the Hospital.

observed Journal reporter, standing beforts the
City Hospital TO DIR. ]. H. Oliver, superin tend
emit of the institution.
sIndsed il had" he replied. 1T was even
more peculiar than you would imagine now, for
the ground was excavsted to width 'of ten
feet all around the basement story. 1t looked
looked like mediayal donjon with Its turrets
and its moaf. OF course the object of the exca-
walton only to give light and air to the
basement, but in wet weather it might have
served the purpose Of moat as well as looking
like one It WAS not remarkable that the peo-
pie called the odd structure 'Dunlap's Folly in
allusion to the designer, DR.. John Dunlap
''Was it originally intended for a hospital!'
Yes. The city began building it for that
purpose in 1856 1t was notfurnished, however,
when the war broke out, and the federal gov
eminent then obtained possession of it, and
furnished it for a military hospital It added
two wooden barracks, one running directly back
from tine brick building and the other trans
versely back of that. In 1865. when the govern
ment abandoned it, the city asked and obtained
the donation of these buildings. but it has since
torn them away. l was looking over the ordi-
nance for furnishiI :. it as q city hospital which
was passed 1866. the other day, and it seems
quite amusing now. They started in on very
small scale. There was to be sale of govern
rnent hospital stores at Jacksonville, and an
agent was authorized TO go there and purchase
supplies. Among the items authorized were
one dozen cups two dozen plates and one
stewards stove small range, if cheap Such
supplies would not furnish one ward now. AT a
later period the old barracks were removed and
the frame building which is now occupied by
The Nurses Training School, chapel, drug room,
vas added in 1888 and the west wing in 1884"
I'VE have now one OF the incest little hospitals
in the United States, continued the Doctor, as
they passed into the building. and the state
ment is no exaggeration- Not only is every
thing clean and neat, but also every portion of
the building and the furniture appears to be
specially adapted and arranged for the greatest
convenience and utility. From the basement,
where are the kitchens, laundry, boiler and store
rooms up to the highest wards sees nothing
that could be placed advantageously otherwheres.
The place seems pleasant, too possibly from the
fact that no one expects find anything pleasant
in q hospital. Much OF this effect is the result
of the labors of the Flower Mission. A bunch
of chrysanthemurns a martel. a rosebud on
pillow by the side of a wan face, CHEEKY
picture on the wall, here and there speak In elo-
uuent terms of the kindly hands that placed
them there. The patients appear more cheerful
than would naturally be expected. The sick
ones have Mark Tapley air of contented mis-
cry, and the convalescents give every evidence
of actual happiness
Good day. doctah," said a smiling colored
youth who stumped along the corridor on
wooden leg
There's remarkable case" said the Doctor.
laughing. THAT was a wreck when he
came here. We cut off bis leg; made him a new
eyelid cut out the glands on one side of his
neck: and, as soon as he heals up little, we
are going to take the bones out of his
When get through he will be as healthy
fragment as you ever saw Here is the medical
department"
The dosing place as distinguished from the
rarving|
Precisely This ward is devoted to typhoid
at present. These sheets of paper give the his
tory of each When a patient comes in one
of tn sse files is appropriated for his record and
hourly thereafter his temperature, pulse and
every other indication of the progress of the dis
are noted. We giveEery little medicine. Whisky
and milk as you will notice, are the chief COM
ponenrs of the typhoid patients regimen. Are
you ready to go home nowP This last to
iight-colored muiatto who lay on cot at one
side.
sI-kaint-go-home-to-d drawled the
sick man, feebly. as broad smile came over his
face.
That's right. You are getting better. You
were delirious, yesterday, and insisted on going
home right away"
Beyond this ward was a large room where
several workmen were engaged in decorating
the walls and ceiling in an almost gorgeous man
ner. This is to be our founding ward" said
the Doctor. ''We are fitting it mp just like the
one in the New York Hospital, in preparation
for a very primary kindergarten. We have
twelve babies here now. The Orphans Home
has quit receiving them and turned its stock on
hand over TO us, account of the poor success
they have had with them. In eighteen years
they have raised only one baby. We get along
very nicely with them. We have lost but one
this year. a child two years DID, and / don't re-
member of case of collie in three months.
Come I'D and look at them"
The babies were in room on the next floor
adjoining the lying-in ward. They were
ranged in rows on two cots without reference to
race, color previous condition of servitude,
and all of them but one were sleeping as vigor-
ously though they expected to learn their
board and keep" by steady somnolence The
other oaf uttered never sound. but sprawled.
opened his eyes to extent that was abnormal,
and pounded his stomach with his chubby fist.
Why is il that babies indulge in this absurd
branch of pueilism2 They seem to know, but
no else tell. unless possibly il may be
that the infant recognizes its stomach as its
direst foe-the producer of all its pains and
'Is this blissfui quiet the result of soothing
syrupl" asked the reporter.
mo sir, never a drop of it. What the world
needs to learn is that children in arms should
be put under military discipline. These fed
every three hours, night and day. a stipulated
amount of a mixture of Mellins food and milk.
They not always SO quiet as now. They
know just when their rations are due, and as 1t
takes some time to get around to all of them there
is always a brilliant chorus at meal times. Won
derful voices those babies have Some of them
can get up to high C. and knock it off the staff
with ease that would put professional to the
blush
The officers of the hospital are cordial in their
acknowledgement of the services of the Training
School nurses, and of their superiority to the
ordinary of persons in like service. Under
the system in use the city pays the Flower Mis-
sion 5000 per month for furnishing nurses, and
supplies them heat, light and lodging. Each
nurse gives two years of service from the time
she enters the school, without regard TO the date
of graduation. Only of the class that grad
uated last week has finished her time and gone
away. There are twelve nurses at present and
ninety six patients. which is about the average
number, though there il a gradual increase from
year to year. Ordinarily eight or ten of them
pay patients" who come here from various
points, chiefly in Indiana and Illinois, to obtain
hospital care These pay IS per week ward
rates, 80 to Sl2 for private rooms. This COW
ers all expenses, except extra medical treat
ment. The hospital has two house physicians
and a drug clerk in addition TO the superintend-
ent. but other physicians often called in by
- 49,